Home-made compost prep??

[reggietheveggie]

Evening all

Sorry if this is in the wrong place and also if it's a daft question.

My compost "dalek" has been full-ish since early on in the year, mostly with what I cut off the choisea (sp?) that was running rampant in the back yard. These prunings were fairly tough and woody and they don't seem to be breaking down much so I'm wondering what I can do to help. I'm not sure I've got the energy to chop everything up by hand, and my local tool hire place in Hull are quoting £25-ish for a days' hire of an electric shredder.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Martyn.

[bustertom]

Hi Martin, ideally you would break it down into smaller pieces. Woody plants will take a long time to compost down. Some must have composted by now, so how about having a sort through - removing the larger/woody pieces and put them somewhere out of the way to compost down and add other stuff to the composter. Some grass cuttings and soil will help to get things going.

[terrier]

.. yes, but don't waste space in your compost bin as it will take ages to rot. Bag it up in some used compost bags and forget about it for a couple of years, or else dry it out, burn it and use the resulting ash as plant food.

[teakdesk]

Compost does take a lot of time to work - especially if it is woody.

Some quick tips....

- compost needs air and should be turned every few months; kitchen waste can rot down quickly and not need turning.

- compost needs to be damp; it may need watering but it shouldn't be wet.

- compost needs heat; sun is good, dark, shady places are bad.

- compost needs layers of different types of material to rot quickly.

- urine (especially male) is a great activator to get things going; a little lime can sometimes help as well.

- adding shredded paper (non glossy) is good for the heap.


You can re-build the dalek by emptying it and pulling all the woody bits out (put them in a black bin-liner and forget them for two years and they will then be fine) then re-fill it in layers with kitchen waste and shredded paper, pee on it and in summer it could be ready in 3 to 5 months.

[ckfe]

- adding shredded paper (non glossy) is good for the heap.

can i use cardboard that is glossy? like cornflake boxes and the boxes that pouches of cat food come in?

[Bren In Pots]

I drop mine cereal boxes in the sink dishwater that gets them nice and soggy then its easy to peel away the shiny layer.

[ckfe]

good idea, i'll try that now.. i'm also trying to bring myself to wee in something (not got a clue what) and go and chuck it in the composter

[Bren In Pots]

Could use your watering can

[Two_Sheds]

I use an old jug. I caught Mr Sheds using it to microwave some baked beans once ... I couldn't bring myself to tell him.

[Two_Sheds]

As to woody prunings ... I've made a stack of them on my lotty, as a wildlife retreat

[ckfe]

I use an old jug. I caught Mr Sheds using it to microwave some baked beans once ... I couldn't bring myself to tell him.

lol i hope he doesn't use this forum or you'll be well and truly busted

[jacob]

- compost needs heat; sun is good, dark, shady places are bad.

Yebbut, plants like the sunny bits of my garden -- they grow there, unlike the shade. So sadly, my compost heap is in the shade. It's a bit slow maybe, but gets there.

[ckfe]

Yebbut, plants like the sunny bits of my garden -- they grow there, unlike the shade. So sadly, my compost heap is in the shade. It's a bit slow maybe, but gets there.

same here jacob.. i've run out of sunny places, every single sunny place is taken up with veggies, apart from the middle of the lawn but i don't think "she who is never obeyed" would be too happy having a dalek staring at her while she does the washing up (before i'm lynched i feel the need to say i do my share of the washing up too!!)

[solway cropper]

You'll probably think I'm a sad old git but with all the woody prunings from other parts of the garden i just sit with a pair of secateurs and snip them into bits about two inches long before adding them to the compost. The smaller they are the quicker they rot and if they haven't broken down they open up the soil.